Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-09-01

SOutaA Ahorlchs
A fashily dressed young man Of
medium hight, with large diamond
in his shirt bosom, stepped off the
barkeltine Aldavia few days ago
when it arrived from Chill. There
was something so sharp and shrewd in
his appearance that the attention of
an Examiner representative was at
tracted To him.
That is Mr.. jenkins, the grand
secretary TO the richest woman in
South America-Mme. Isidors de Con-
sino--commonly known as the Monte
Cristo of South America" said an
officer of the vessel.
80 you would like to know some
thing of the madame" observed Mr.
jenkins, stroking his mustache on be-
ing introduced. ''Well there is lots to
tell you. | could talk about her pos
sessions and her eccentricities for
week and the subject would not be
half exhausted. It's rather curious
thing that she was not discovered long
since. She is known all along the
South American coast and is almost a
Queen over the people. In fact, there
is no one who disputes her in anything
she says or does, and she reyels in the
luxuries that her enormous wealth can
surround her with. About so years
have passed since she was born, and,
though few women have dissipated as
she has, she is well preserved, and
goes out and has her nice little time
the same as ever.
mo, she is not fair. Her features
are coarse, like servant-girls, but
she has had many lovers.
''She has Partially for the French,
and a few years ago when n gentleman
from France happened around she IN
variably invited him ard fell in love
with him. In late years her sons have
been Watching her and using their
efforts to keep her from scandal, which
she falls into very easily.
The society people of the city re-
pestedly vow that they will never visit
her again, but her receptions are SO
elegant and rich that they never fail
to attend when they receive an invita-
ton.
''Isidora is native OF Chill and
widow of the late Luis de Cousino, a
gentleman of French origin She
claims to have Castilian blood in her
veins, and most probably she has.
She is owner of about four-tifths of
the coal mines of Lota, small sea-
port in the southern part of Chilli. The
Inhabitants of which are entirely de-
pendent for their livelihood upon the
mines, and besides this she has the
controlling interest in the Compania
Esplotadora de Carbon de L0ta
Coronei. These mines supply all
vessels of the Pacific Steam Naviga-
ton Company with coal and also all
steamers plying on the southwest
coast.
"At Lota she has removed what was
a handsome building and is rebuilding
a palace to eclipse anything in South
America. Its cost will be more than
81, 100000. The palace is to be stu
ated in the most beautiful park
country. veritable Eden, where it
will be surrounded by the most. mag
nificent trees and plants that money
can procure. In Santiago, the Capital
of Chill, she has residence that for
grandeur has few equals. 1t is situ-
ated in garden of five acres teeming
with tropical plants and birds.
"Her stables contain fifty or more
thoroughbred English racers; the
madame was the first patroness of
horse-racing in Chilli. Her turnouts
are equal to those of any Princess.
''Isidora cares little for money. Her
income is enormous, but she manages
to spend about as much. In 1885 her
brother died. In her bereavement she
made donations to hospitals, churches,
converts, etc, to the amount of $780,
600. She was left s9,000,000 by him.
Included in her estate was handsome
residence on one of the principal
streets of Santiago. The dwelling
was built and owned for time by
former Californian, Don Enrique
Meiggs, who had all the material anu
workmen brought from the States.
''She has three daughters. The
eldest is q and the youngest is II
years of age. The second is IL and
the pretticst. Isidora has much trouble
with them. Recently young Lieu
tenant fell in love with the 17-year-old
and her mother saw fit to remove her
to convent. The others have since
been placed where the beguilements of
man cannot reach. San Francisco
Examiner